Means for splicing inner tubes



May 30, 1933.

N. E. GARDINER El' AL 1,911,682

MEANS FoR SPLIGING INNER TUBES Filed Jan. 22, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l WHW A TTORNEY.

May 30, 1933 N. E. GAR-DINER ET Al. 1,911,682

MEANS FOR 51.31.11()ING INNER TUBES Filed Jan. 22, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJ 732% ma ATTORNEYS,

1 f BY fr if( Patented May 30, 1933 UNITED STATES PATEN'T-A olnncuv NELL E. GARDINER, OF CUYAHOG-A FALLS, AND GEORGE` B. NICHOLS, `01:" AKRONLOHIO,

ASSIG-NORS TO THE FIRESTONE TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY, AKRON, OHIO, A

CORPORATION OF OHIO MEANS FOR SPLICING INNER TUBES Application led January V22, 1929. SerialNo. 334,30@

This invention relates to machines for use in the manufacture of inner tubes for pneumatic tires.

The modern method of manufacturing stock into tubular form, cutting off a suitable length of the tubing, skiving and buffing the ends of the tubing', splicing said ends together, compressing or rolling said splice,

and finally molding the tube in a circular vulcanizing mold or press. A common defect in tubes heretofore so manufactured has been an improper splicing of the tube ends resulting in an insecure union of the f ends of the tube and a leaky construction.

The object of the present invention is to devise an improved means for rolling or compacting the splice in the uncured tube to provide a perfect union of the tube ends. A further object is to devise a means for successively rolling or compacting various portions of the tube splice while the tube is passing along a conveyor. Another object is to devise a machine having fluid pressure operated rollers for successively compacting various portions of the tube splice. A still further object is to devise mechanical means for splicing inner tubes while the latter are passing along a conveyor whereby a great portion of the hand labor involved may be eliminated. The foregoing and other objects are obtained by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific form thereof disclosed herein.

Of the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of apparatus embodying the principles of the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the splicing presses comprising a portion of said apparatus;

Figure 3 is a side elevation thereof; and

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 denotes a conveyor belt upon which are carried suitable lengths 11 of unvulcanized rubber tubing to be made into tubes.

pneumatic tire tubes, the belt being trained over end pulley 12 journaled in standard 13 and over a drive pulley (not shown).

Mounted adjacent the conveyor belt and ininner tubes comprises shaping the rubber termediateV the ends thereof is a tube end bufring device comprising amotor 14 having buiing wheels 15, 15 attached to the ends of the shaft thereof and being mountedvona supporting table 16. Further along the conveyor belt are mounted a pair of presses for rolling or compacting the spliced ends of the The presses are of identical construction and each press consists of a supporting standard 17 and bracket 18, and a double -acting Huid pressureoperated cylinder 19V carried over the conveyor for actuating a roller 2() of rubber -or other suitable material towards and from the conveyor belt by mea-ns of its piston rod 21 and piston 22.

The roll 20 is journaledin a yoke 23 at-'r` tached tothe end of the piston rod and is prevented vfrom relative rotation by means of rods 24C kand 25 slidable inv bracket'lS. A four-way valve 26 is provided alternately to connect the upper. and lower ends of the* cylinder selectively with a Huid pressure line 27 and lexhaust 28. In order togive Vadded support to the conveyor belt la roll 29 is supported directly under roll 2O Aof the press.

The operation of the apparatus comprises placingrr measured lengths of unvulcanized rubber tubing upon the conveyor, skiving the ends of the tubes by hand as the tubes pass along the conveyor, bufling the skived ends of the tubes on buliing wheels 15, one end being buffed externally and the other bulfed internally, the ends joined by hand in overlapping relation to form a splice, and the spliced portion of the tube passed under the presses for rolling or compacting the' union. Where a pair of the presses are provided as above described the splices of the tubes may be rolled as the latter pass. along the conveyor, the tube being passed under the first press flatwise and being turned edgewise and flattened out to pass under the second press for completing the rolling of the splice. It will be understood that a single pressmay be employed in which case after the splice has passed under erated roll reciprocable to engage with the` the press the first time the tube is brought back, turned edgewise and flattened out to pass under the press the second time to complete the operation. As the spliced portion of the tube passesunder the press four-Way valve 26 is turned to admit pressure to the upper end of the cylinder for forcing roller 20 against thetube as illustratedin Figure 4. viVhen the rolling operation' iscompleted vva`lve'26 'is turned to admit pressure tothe lower end of the cylinder for raising roll 20. The tube is then ready for vulcanization and the usual finishing steps. The practise of the above described invention results in a substantial saving in time of preparation and elimination of defective tubes resulting` 'from improper splicing of the tube ends.

Modications of the apparatus disclosed may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the -invention or the scope thereof 'as defined by theV appended claims.

That is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for the preparation of inner tubes prior to vulcanization comprising, in combination, a movable conveyor belt, a fluid pressure operated roll reciprocable into engagement with a tube passing along the -conveyor for compressing the overlapped ends thereof'7 and asecond fluid pressure op* tube passing along the conveyor `for compressing the overlapped ends thereof to complete a secure splicing of the tube ends.

2. Apparatus for the preparation of inner` tubes prior to vulcanization comprising, in

- combination7 a movable conveyor belt, and a A uid pressure operated roll reciprocable into engagement with a tube passing along the conveyor for compressing the overlapped ends thereof to complete a secure splicing ofthe tube ends.v

Inv Witness whereof We have hereunto affixed our signatures this 19th day of December,f 1928.

y GEORGE B. NICHOLS.

NELL E. GARDINER. 

